Ava sighs dramatically, holding the pod in mid-air.
“Not for this,” she says, looking at the table. “I feel like I’m in a nursing home.”
“Language, Ava!” Trudy scolds.
“What’s your favorite food?” I ask.
“Starbucks and pizza.”
“I have some coffee brewing in the kitchen, and there’s some leftover pizza in the freezer if you’d like it,” I say. “Why don’t you change into your swimsuit and enjoy the pool.”
You don’t need to be a part of this, I don’t say.
“Finally,” she says, pushing her plate away and standing to leave.
Barry and Sid look at me.
“You don’t have to stay either,” I say.
They grab their plates and flee.
Trudy and I carry on eating without saying a word, the clatter of silverware filling the silence.
“So?” Trudy finally asks, scooping a slice of pineapple upside-down cake onto her dessert plate. “When do we go to church? It’s getting awfully late. I’m guessing you go to church later on the West Coast?”
“I told you earlier, we are at church.”
Trudy carefully places her knife and fork on her plate, folds her arms into her body and looks me directly in the eye.
“What do you mean?”
“This is our church,” I say, spreading my arms to encompass the sun, sky, mountains, trees, all of nature.
“This is not a church,” Trudy says. “This is a backyard.”
“No,” I say. “This is our church. We call it Church of Mary.”
“To honor the mother of Jesus?”
“Sort of,” I say. “We created this tradition decades ago as a way to celebrate our friendship as well as our special relationship with God. My father was a pastor.”
“Then he should have taught you that you need to go to a proper church, right?” Trudy asks.
“We have faith, Trudy, but we do not participate in organized religion. There is a big difference between faith and religion. Organized religion has caused irreparable harm to me and my community. But I do believe that one does not need to attend church to have faith. Have you ever readWalden?”
“No, I only read the Bible, and I’m sorry to inform you that you will go to hell.”
My mouth drops open, and I stare at Trudy, who simply nods emphatically at my disbelief.
I jump at applause behind me. Teddy is back. With a new cocktail. And Tupperware.
He has placed them on the bar behind us and is clapping his hands loudly.
“Told ya, Ron. My sister will never change. She speaks with a forked tongue.”
“The Bible never changes.”
“You are the greatest actress to walk this earth since Meryl Streep,” Teddy says. “I’m shocked you haven’t won an Oscar.”
